Philatelic cover mount and the like



PHILATELIC COVER MOUNT AND THE LIKE Egges A. Das, Haworth, N. J. Application December 27, 1954, Serial No. 477,614

3 Claims. (Cl. 40158) This invention relates to the art of philately and aims generally to improve the same, and more particularly to provide a new and improved method and means for preparing and mounting philatelie covers and the like.

Wi-th said general aims in view, the objects of the invention, severally and 4interdependently, comprise the provision of a mounting means for securing envelopes to album pages or the like in a secure Vand effective way, Without damage to the same; the provision of -a mounting means that affords a permanent holder on which the envelope is mounted in a readily removable manner without binding or external engagements with the envelope and consequent danger of damage; the provision of a mount from which accidental displacement o f the cover is substantially completely prevented; the provision of a cover mount particularly adapted for double u se as a stutter for rst day covers and the like and for subsequent use as a mount therefor; the provision of a cover mount that is completely invisible in use; the provision of a cover mount that holds the cover neatly and ilat against the page; the provision of a cover mount that does not add any double thickness thereof to the album and thus reduce the number of covers accommodatable therein; the provision of a cover mount that acts to reinforce the covers while simultaneously mounting the same; and the provision of -a cover mount that materially assists -in preventing corner and end turn-over of the covers and creasing thereof as the pages of the album are turned singly or -in groups.

The invention -resides -in the new and useful means and procedures hereinafter described, and is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings of an illustrative emybodiment of the invention Fig. l is a front plan view of the mounting means while ready for use as a stuler.

Fig. 2 is |a perspective view illustrating the inserting of the device into a cover as a stuifer.

Fig. 3 -is a perspective, partially cut away, showing the device in place as a stuffer with the envelope ap turned in over the stulfer.

Fig. 4 is a rear plan view of the device after conversion from a stuffer to a mounting means.

Fig. 5 is Ia perspective View illustrating the inserting o f the mounting means into the cover with the cover ap previously turned in.

Fig. 6 is a perspective showing the mount in place in the cover, with its neck at the flap junctures .and its tongues behind and external 4of the cover.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective showing the cover hinged t-o an album page by the mount.

Referring to the drawings of the illustrative embodiment, and more particularly to Fig. 1, the device there shown comprises a card 10 of a size to snugly lit within a throated envelope 11 (Fig. 2). The card 10 is provided with means 12 defining tongue portions 13 at either ,side of its upper part of less depth than the full depthlof the 2,8 l 7,1 7l Patented Dec. 2 4, 1957 rice 2 throat 14 of the envelope. The means 12, in the form shown comprises lines of severance, printed, rouletted, perforated, lor otherwise provided, that extend inwardly from the side edges of the card 10 and have inner terminals 15 each close to the center line 16 :of the card than half the width of the throat 14.

As is also shown lin Figs. v1 and 2, the card 10 may be further provided with means defining bevelling of its lower corners, as exemplied by the lines of severance 17 extending obliquely across the lower corners of the card at slight angles to the sides thereof.

Also, as shown in Fig. 1, the card 10 may be provided with additional corner beveling means exemplified by lines of severance 1,8 extending obliquely across the upper corners of the portion of the card directly below the lfirst named lines of severance 12.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, the envelope 11 as above noted is of the throated type, that is, it has a throat, or central area of reduced height 14 in its back wall, herein formed by the overlapping of the side and bottom aps 11a and 11b of the envelope. In the conventional form shown, the envelope 11 is rectangular .and its bottom llap 11b overlaps the side flaps and is -adhesively secured thereto, nearly but not quite up t-o its upper edge. Thus the height `of the base of the throat 14 is defined by the upper limits of these adhesive securements. The top or seal-ing ap 11C, may bear adhesive along its edges of any conventional arrangement, or may be ungummed in envelopes intended specically for philatelie covers to be mailed with stuffer enclosures only.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the card 10 (Fig. 1) is preferably sized to closely t `and ll the envelope 11, and after the card 10 is slid into the envelope, the flap llc is preferably tucked in over the card. In the form shown, the card 10 lis initially supplied in unsevered condition to afford maximum reinforcement, especially of thin paper envelopes, but -the card may be supplied in severed condition, when it is to be used with thicker or stronger envelopes that are not apt to tear or crease Iat the severed lines 12.

When the envelope 11 with its stulfer 10 is being stamped and mailed (either by the sender, or by the postmaster or other agent in the case of First Day of Issue covers) the stuffer card 10 which snugly fits the standard envelope 11 reinforces its edges and corners as well as its body from bending and nicking and prevents damage to the philatelie material during mail handling and delivery.

When the philatelie cover is received, the card 10 lis removed therefrom, and if the tongues 13 have not already been severed along the lines of severance 12 such severance is made, as shown in Fig. 4. Preferably, also, and especially if it is contemplated that the cover to be mounted will be frequently removed from and replaced on the mount, the corners 17 will be bevelled either on the lines of severance, or in accordance with instructions equivalent to the provisions of such lines, to facilitate entry of the card bottom into the envelope. At the same time, in the form shown in which the lines of severance extend to the side edges of the card 10 well below the level of the upper ends of the side edges of the fitting envelope 11, the corners 18 may be bevelled in like manner.

Where no material of philatelie or other interest appears on the llap llc, this ap of the cover 11 is preferably turned in, and then the body of the card 10 is slipped into the envelope 11, to dispose the unsevered neck portion 20 on the throat 14 of the envelope and preferably near 4the base of Ithe throat as above defined, with the severed tongues 13 extending laterally beyond the throat outside the envelope 11, as `shown in Fig.` 6.`

When the mount 10 Ais inserted in the envelope 1v1 as iust described, the ends of the tongues 13 may be secured to the album pages or other backing sheet or supporting surface 21 (Fig. 7) in any suitable way, as by applying adhesive thereto, or stripping lprotective paper from adhesiveV already applied thereto, for example.

With the envelope mounted in this manner it i s hinged to the support 21 by the neck portion 20 (Figs. 4 and 5) and by the torque flexibility of the nngummed or free portions between the secured ends of the tongues 13. Thus the envelope may be lifted or tilted up from the support 21 to inspect any matter of interest on its back (such as backstamps, return cards, or the like). Also when such matter of interest appears on the llap 11C, the envelope may be mounted with that Hap not tucked in, so that it extends from the top edge of the mounted envelope and is exhibited to view` Another method of mounting the envelope will also be apparent, from an inspection of Fig. 7 in connection with the following description, viz: the mount, prepared as in Fig. 4, with or without removal of the corners at 17 and 18, may first have the ends of its tongues 13 secured to the supporting surface 21, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7. The body portion of the card 10 below the lines of severance 12 may then be tilted up from the plane of the sheet 21, even to a vertical position producing a right angle bend at the neck area 20. The cover 11 may then be partially slid onto the card body, after which the envelope and card body may be laid parallel to the backing sheet while the envelope is slipped further over the card to bring the neck 20 into the throat 14 of the envelope with the upper parts of the envelope superimposed over the tongues 13, as shown in Fig. 7. In this operation, with tongues 13 of the form shown, the envelope may be slid at until contact is made with the lower edges of the tongues 13, and the sides of the cover may then be lifted slightly to clear those edges while the envelope is moved upward until the entire mount is concealed by the envelope.

Since the hinging at 20 is located in considerably spaced relation to the top of the envelope 11, the envelope clings snugly to the page 21 except when intentionally lifted or tilted up therefrom, against the spring action of the free portions of the tongues 13 being torqued by such lifting.

After the mount is securely attached to the support 21, as by thorough drying of the glue on tongues 13, the envelope may readily be removed from the mount while leaving the latter in place, merely by lightly touching the side edges of the cover and easing it downwardly o the card 10 Without advancing either side appreciably farther than the other during the operation.

After the envelope has been moved downwardly about a half an inch, it may be grasped centrally of its bottom edge between the thumb and forefinger and be pulled gently for more rapid removal. Following such removal the same or another envelope may be slipped into place on the mount in the manner last described in connection with Fig. 7. Thus neither the cover nor the mount is damaged by removal of the cover therefrom.

Notwithstanding the ease with which the cover may be intentionally removed by one using the proper approach, it will be found that accidental falling or knocking of the cover from the mount is practically impossible. In the first place, due to the large friction area and snug lit of card 10 inside the envelope, the weight of the cover is less than the friction between the cover and mount. Secondly, unless the cover is moved exactly parallel to the edges of the card it jams against the sides of the mount (whether or not the corners 17 or 18 or both are removed), like a drawer that must be opened with both hands. Thus pressure against the upper edge of the envelope 11, unless exactly centered and very carefully applied, does not displace the cover from the mount.

-For purposes of illustration, a most economical form of the device has been illustrated, in which the lines of severance 12 (and 17 and 18 when provided) are merely printed and provided with appropriate legends to guide cutting with scissors, for example, and in which the ends of the tongues 13 are not pre-gummed (or provided with covered pressure sensitive adhesive, which may be provided in more elegant forms of the invention), but bear legends indicating how to secure the mount to the surface 21 (Fig. 7) with glue. A suitable trademark may be applied to the mount, as indicated by the letters T. M. in Figs. l and 2, and more or less detailed information as to the method of use (in substance similar to the methods above described) may be printed on the card 10 or on a separate instruction sheet supplied therewith. Preferably, no moisture softenable gum is applied to the tongues 13 when the device is to be used as a stuier or ller, to avoid possibility of the mount adhering to the inside of the cover in those parts of the country where severe dampness be encountered.

The cards 10, for use with throated envelopes, are preferably cut from number 20 index card stock, and cut with the grain running parallel to the side edges of the card over which the envelope must slide. For use with a standard envelope with the throat form currently employed in U. S. Post Oflice stamped envelopes, the terminae 15 of the lines of severance 12 are preferably located from about 1/2 to about 1% of an inch from the upper edge of the card, and spaced about 3/1 of an inch from each other.

Since the engagement of the mount is internal of the cover, any desired transparent plastic or other protective sheet material can be placed on the philatelie cover, and be terminated at the upper edge of the cover or be provided with a ap to tuck in about that edge just as the sealing flap of the cover is itself tucked in in Fig. 5.

It will be appreciated that this invention, while simple in retrospect, provides a device having many advantages, among which are the fact that in its preferred forms (l) it may serve both as a ller and as a mounting device, (2) it affords a secure retention of the cover but (3) the cover can easily be intentionally removed, (4) it holds the cover at and neatly against the album page and at no point adds more than a single thickness of mounter stock to the album, (5) no part of the mounter is visible in normal use to detract f-rom the interest of the cover, and (6) no interference is offered to use of transparent protection `on the cover.

While there have been described herein what are at present considered preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention. lt is therefore to be understood that the exemplary embodiments are illustrative and not restrictive of the invention,

' the scope of which is defined in the appended claims, and

that all modications that come within the meaning and range of equivalen-cy of the claims are intended to be included therein.

I claim:

l. A card for stuffing, and for mounting on an underlying support, an envelope having a throat in the form of a central area of reduced height in its back wall, said card being flexible 'and being of a size to wholly and snugly t within and be entirely concealed behind the envelope, said card having a main portion for tting snugly within the envelope, a neck portion at the central upper part of said main portion, said neck portion being of a width less than the width of the throat of the envelope and being exposed at said throat when said main portion is fully inserted into the envelope, said card compriising means dening tongue portions extending laterally from said neck portion and thus adapted to be displaced from the plane of the main portion of the card to extend laterally beyond the throat of the envelope outside the back of the envelope while the main portion of the 5 is within the envelope, thereby to enable the envelope to be removably mounted by securement of said exible tongue portions to an underlying support.

2. A card according to claim 1, further comprising means defining, at the ends of the tongue portions remote from said neck portion, areas of attachment for securing said remote portions only to the underlying support.

3. A device for stuing, and for mounting on an underlying support, an envelope having a throat in the form of a central area of reduced height in its back wall, said device consisting of the combination, in a single unitary card of uniform thickness, which card is exible and constitutes means for stuing the envelope, of integral means adapting said card for mounting the envelope to the underlying support, said last named means comprising a hinged connection, between portions of said card, that is located in and conned to that part of the card falling at the throat area of the envelope when the card is inserted therein.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 274,348 Lewis Mar. 20, 1883 1,956,527 De Groot Apr. 24, 1934 2,335,793 Ruppin Nov. 30, 1943 2,390,294 Cross Dec. 4, 1945 

